Rocky Mountain Youth Corps

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is a Taos-based nonprofit that engages young people in conservation, community service, and workforce development through paid crew experiences. Founded in 1995, it provides youth and young adults with the opportunity to earn income, gain job skills, and contribute to environmental and community projects across northern New Mexico.

The organization operates conservation corps programs in which crews of young people work on projects such as trail building and maintenance, forest thinning and wildfire mitigation, watershed restoration, and other outdoor work on public lands. Participants earn a stipend and often an education award while developing technical skills, work habits, and leadership abilities. The model combines meaningful labor with personal and professional growth.

Beyond conservation, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps offers programs focused on education, career readiness, and life skills, helping participants set goals, complete education, and prepare for future employment. Many of the young people served face barriers to traditional employment or schooling, and the corps experience provides structure, mentorship, and a sense of accomplishment.

The organization serves a diverse population of young people from northern New Mexico, including many from rural and underserved communities. Its programs connect youth to the outdoors and to their communities while building a pipeline toward careers in natural resources, public service, and other fields. Wildfire mitigation work has taken on added importance given the increasing threat of catastrophic fires in the region.

Supported by federal and state funding, partnerships with land management agencies, grants, and donations, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps advances both conservation goals and youth development. By putting young people to work caring for the land, it addresses environmental needs while investing in the next generation of northern New Mexicans.